Diversity buffers against changes No one species fills all the roles (functions) of an ecosystem (species diveristy) No one individual has all the alleles for a gene (genetic diversity)
Intricate webs of interacting organisms 2,000,000 species are known ~18,000 new species discovered per year estimated >85% of species unknown Reflects billions of ways organisms have adapted, over and over, to a changing planet biodiversity ’hot spots” exist Humans relentlessly alter ecosystems aquatic and terrestrial ~150 species go extinct each day
Change physical and biotic environment Aquatic ecosystems heavily affected Impacts outweigh natural extinction rates